IN VITRO PROPAGATION AND FIELD ESTABLISHMENT OF HARDWICKIA BINATA ROXB. AND ASSESSMENT POLYMORPHISM THROUGH MOLECULAR MARKERS

Abstract

Hardwickia binata Roxb. is a leguminous tree of great economic importance. Yet a protocol for its in vitro propagation that is capable of taking the regenerated plants from lab to land does not exist. The plant is quite recalcitrant and has poor natural regeneration. Macropropagation techniques are also not standardized. Problem of leaching of phenolic compounds in culture condition, premature leaf fall during multiplication phase and callusing during rooting were sever problems encountered during the course of development of the protocol. These problems were addressed using various treatments and a working protocol for in vitro propagation of H. binata from axillary bud of the seedling nodal segments was perfected. The plantlets were hardened through a systematic two stage hardening procedure and were eventually transferred to experimental field. Here we report the development of an in vitro propagation protocol for H. binata, leading to successful establishment of plants thus obtained, in open field condition.

Keywords

• micropropagation
• shoot multiplication
• rooting
• acclimatization